About Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever| Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC Ebola Virus Ecology and Transmission Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus species. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae , genus Ebolavirus. There are five identified Ebola virus species, four of which are known to cause disease in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus); Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus); Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus); and Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus). The fifth, Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus), has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans. Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa. The natural reservoir host of Ebola virus remains unknown.

However, on the basis of evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne and that bats are the most likely reservoir. Four of the five virus strains occur in an animal host native to Africa. People get Ebola through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with Ebola or the body of a person who has died from Ebola, infected fruit bats or primates (apes and monkeys), and possibly from contact with semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola (for example, by having oral, vaginal, or anal sex) Related Links Southern African Development Community Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as the Republic of Zaire, is geographically the largest state in Southern and Central Africa.

It is situated at the heart of Africa, and lies on the Equator, covering an area of 2,345,095 km². The DRC has 37 kilometres of coastline and a geography characterised by a vast central basin low-lying plateau rising to volcanoes and mountains in the east. More than half the country is covered by dense tropical rainforest. The country is traversed by numerous rivers with the Congo River being the largest. The DRC has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons; the 'dry season' (18 to 27oC ) called 'Congolese Winter', which is from June to August. The 'rainy season' (22 to 33oC) runs from September to May with its heavy, monsoon rains. Temperatures are hot and humid in the central region,cooler and drier in the southern highlands, and cooler and wetter in the eastern highlands. The population is estimated at 75,259,000 (2011), and is divided into ten provinces and one city, namely, Kinshasa – the capital.

The provinces are Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale and Sud-Kivu. French is the only official language, with four national languages; Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo and Tshiluba. The DRC has over 200 African ethnic groups, of which the majority are Bantu. Congo became independent on 30 June, 1960. However, during the period between independence and 1999, the DRC suffered two civil wars, erupting and dying off at different times. In addition to the capital city of Kinsasha, other major population centres include Lubumbashi, Kisangani, Matadi and Goma. The president is the Head of State. The DRC’s economy is primarily based on the mining sector. It has abundant mineral resources including copper, cobalt, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore and coal as well as timber, and vast hydropower potential.

The DRC is potentially one of the richest mining countries in Africa. The country was the world’s fourth largest producer of industrial diamonds during the 1980s, and diamonds continue to dominate exports, accounting for nearly half of exports (US$828 million) in 2004. The oil industry, mainly from offshore fields, is another important contributor to the DRC’s economy. Agriculture is the mainstay of the DRC economy, accounting for 42.5 % of GDP in 2004, with the main cash crops consisting of coffee, palm oil, rubber, cotton, sugar, tea and cocoa. The DRC with its dense rain forests, wildlife and rivers offers an important investment opportunity for the development of eco-tourism and the construction of new hotels. The country has seven major national; parks:Virunga;Kahuzi-Biega;Garamba;Maiko;Kundelungu;Upemba;and Salonga. Spectacular wildlife viewing is offered in the Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega, where the lowland gorillas are found.

Virunga National Park, which borders Rwanda and Uganda, is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and also houses the Tonga Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The Nyiragongo and Nyamulgira volcanoes offer spectacular views, where lava flows can be seen on both volcanoes and the crater at Nyiragongo, which is still active. Country Profile 10 Facts: Democratic Republic of the Congo 10 Facts: Democratic Republic of the Congo by Henno Kruger · June 21, 2010 The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country on the African continent. The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the Central African Republic and Sudan to the North, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in the East, Zambia and Angola to the South, the Republic of the Congo to the West and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the East. This country has been selected as the 10 Facts topic today on Running Wolf’s Rant. Watch this space for regular updates in the Facts , Technology , Music and Movies categories. If I’ve left out anything important about this country, please comment on this post.

Here are some facts about the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly known as the Congo Free State, the Belgian Congo, Congo-Leopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa and Zaire. The current name came into effect in 1997. To distinguish it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is often referred to as the DRC. French is the only official language in the DRC. Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili and Tshiluba are recognized as regional languages (although there are an estimated total of 242 languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The DRC has an estimated population of 68 million people. The capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Kinshasa (founded in 1881 and formerly known as Leopoldville). The city has an estimated population of 10 million people. In 1974, Kinshasa hosted the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, in which Ali defeated Foreman to regain the World Heavyweight title.

The DRC was a Belgian colony (Leopoldville was named after King Leopold of Belgium) and gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Joseph Kabila is the current president of the DRC, he took over after his father was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in the first multi-party elections in the country in 2006 (the first one since 1965). Mobutu Sese Seko was the president of Zaire (now known as the DRC) from 1965 until 1997 and was a US Cold War ally. Mobutu institutionalized corruption to prevent political rivals from challenging his control, leading to an economic collapse in 1996. Although the DRC is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (or SADC). There you have it. I’m sure that I might have left something important out. Watch this space for regular updates in the 10 Facts section of the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.

A special page is currently active for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, feel free to check it out. The following two tabs change content below. Democratic Republic of the Congo « World Without Genocide - Working to create a World Without Genocide Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC; Congo) has been embroiled in violence that has killed as many as 6 million people. The conflict has been the world’s bloodiest since World War II. The First and Second Congo Wars, which sparked the violence, involved multiple foreign armies and investors from Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, Libya, and Sudan, among others, and has been so devastating that it is sometimes called the “African World War.” Fighting continues in the eastern parts of the country, destroying infrastructure, causing physical and psychological damage to civilians, and creating human rights violations on a mass scale. Rape is being used as a weapon of war, and large-scale plunder and murder are also occurring as part of efforts to displace people on resource-rich land. Today, most of the fighting is taking place in North and South Kivu, on the DRC/Rwanda border.

Some fighting is political, resulting from unrest caused by Hutu refugees from the Rwandan genocide now living in DRC, while other fighting results from an international demand for natural resources. DRC has large quantities of gold, copper, diamonds, and coltan (a mineral used in cell phones), which many parties desire to control for monetary reasons. However, money from the sales of these resources has not reached average citizens. Currently the education, healthcare, legal, and road systems are in shambles. The DRC, formerly known as Zaire, is located in Central Africa. To the north, it is bordered by the Central African Republic and Sudan; to the east, by Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania; and to the south by Zambia and Angola. The capital city, Kinshasa, is located in the far western area of the country. DRC covers about 905,000 square miles and has a population of 63 million people.

Although citizens of the DRC are among the poorest in the world, having the second lowest GDP per capita globally, the country is widely considered to be the richest country in the world regarding natural resources, with untapped deposits of raw minerals estimated to be worth in excess of US $24 trillion. Rwandan refugees fleeing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo The violence in DRC is closely related to the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. In this genocide, groups of hard-line, militant Hutus, known as the Interahamwe, slaughtered ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus. The RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front), a Tutsi-led militia, defeated the Hutu movement and came to power in July 1994. Immediately following the RPF takeover, nearly 2 million Hutus fled into neighboring countries to avoid potential Tutsi retribution. Their refugee presence in Zaire (DRC), among other factors, led to the first Congo War in 1996. FDLR The Second Congo War, or African World War, began in 1998. Although the war was declared over in 2003, eastern Congo continues to be extremely unstable.

A proxy war between Rwanda and the Kinshasa government continued in the east until the end of 2008. Congolese Tutsi warlord General Laurent Nkunda waged a campaign to destroy Hutu rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). He accused the Congolese government of backing the FDLR. A change in the conflict came about in late 2008 when Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo joined forces to combat the FDLR in North and South Kivu provinces. But the bitter conflict has continued unabated and Congolese government troops, backed by thousands of U.N. peacekeepers, have failed to defeat the FDLR rebels. Tensions are still high on the Rwandan border, where Rwanda’s Tutsis still feel threatened by Hutu rebels. Since the majority of the forces in the DRC’s conflict were non-governmental militias, disarming or controlling them since the ceasefires were signed has proved difficult. Conflict continues over the plentiful natural resources in the DRC. Violence is especially prevalent in the East, which is rich in minerals, diamonds, and timber.

Learn more about conflict minerals and what you can do to reduce the impact on Congo by clicking here . LRA Victim The Lord’s Resistance Army has expanded its operations from northern Uganda into the DRC. The LRA is notorious for kidnapping children, forcing them to kill and maim innocent victims, and enslaving young girls as concubines. Attacks by the LRA are currently spreading fear and the threat of famine through northeast DRC as the LRA extends its abduction and terror raids across the region. New conflicts between the LRA and FARDC have left thousands of civilians dead. It is estimated that 6 million have died as a result of the conflict, and an estimated 45,000 more die each month. The death toll is due to widespread disease and famine; reports indicate that almost half of the individuals who have died are children under the age of 5. The long and brutal conflict in the DRC has caused massive suffering for civilians, with estimates of millions dead either directly or indirectly as a result of the fighting. There have been frequent reports of weapon bearers killing civilians, and destroying property. Child suffers from diarrhea in Congo Those who are not subject to violence must contend with poverty, famine, and disease.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been impoverished by the violence. Infant and child mortality rates are extremely high as a result of famine and malnutrition. An estimated 3.4 million people have been displaced within the DRC and 2 million have become refugees in neighboring Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The prevalence of rape and other forms of sexual violence is considered the worst in the world. In May 2011, the New York Times reported that a woman is raped every minute in the Congo. Aside from the severe physical and psychological trauma experienced by rape victims, sexual violence has contributed to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. In 2003, Sinafasi Makelo, a representative of Mbuti pygmies, told the UN’s Indigenous People’s Forum that, during the war, his people were hunted down and eaten as though they were game animals. In neighboring North Kivu province there has been cannibalism by a group known as Les Effaceurs (“the erasers”), who wanted to clear the land of people to open it up for mineral exploitation. Both sides of the war regarded the Mbuti as “subhuman” and expendable.

MONUC The UN’s current mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, called MONUC, is entering its thirteenth year. MONUC is the UN’s largest and longest-lasting mission to date. It is mandated to protect civilians and also help in the reconstruction of the country. With 18,000 people, MONUC is spread thinly across northeastern Congo and is largely unable to halt attacks. Rebels continue to kill and plunder natural resources with impunity. Some claim the rebels are supported by an international crime network stretching through Africa to Western Europe and North America. The international community’s support for political and diplomatic efforts to end the war has been relatively consistent, but no effective steps have been taken to abide by repeated pledges to demand accountability for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that are routinely committed in Congo. United Nations Security Council and the U.N. Secretary-General have frequently denounced human rights abuses and the humanitarian disaster that the war unleashed on the local population. But they have shown little will to tackle the responsibility of occupying powers for the atrocities taking place in areas under their control, areas where the worst violence in the country took place.

On March 14, 2012, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a ‘guilty’ verdict against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo on charges of rape, murder, and the use of child soldiers, the first verdict for the ICC. Download a one page PDF summary of this information here . Zaire - Democratic Republic of the Congo Share By Matt Rosenberg On May 17, 1997, the African country of Zaire became known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo . This name is not really new; before the country was called Zaire, it had been known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1971 the country and even the huge Congo River were renamed Zaire by former President Sese Seko Mobutu. In 1997 General Laurent Kabila took control of Zaire country and returned it to the name the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which it held prior to 1971. A new flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of was also introduced to the world. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the setting for Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, was called "Africa's most unstable country" in 1993.

Their economic problems and government corruption required intervention from Western nations over the past few decades. The country is about half Catholic has 250 different ethnic groups within its borders. There is inherent geographical confusion in this change due to the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo's western neighbor is known as the Republic of the Congo , a name which it has held since 1991. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World Major differences exist between the two equatorial Congo neighbors. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is much larger in both population and area. The population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is about 69 million but the Republic of the Congo has a mere 4 million. The area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is over 905,000 square miles (2.3 million square kilometers) but the Republic of the Congo has 132,000 square miles (342,000 square kilometers). The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds 65% of the world's cobalt reserves and both countries rely on oil, sugar, and other natural resources. The official language of both Congos is French.

These two timelines of Congolese history might help sort out the history of their names: Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) 1877 - Henry Stanley explores the region for Belgium 1908 - Becomes Belgian Congo June 30, 1960 - Independence for the Republic of the Congo 1964 - Becomes People's Republic of the Congo 1966 - Mobutu takes control and the country becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo October 27, 1971 - Becomes Republic of Zaire 1996 - Mobutu is in Europe with prostate cancer so rebels, led by General Laurent Kabila attacked the Zairian army March 1997 - Mobutu returns from Europe May 17, 1997 - Kabila and his troops take the capital, Kinshasa and Mobutu goes into exile. Zaire becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There is worldwide confusion about the change September 7, 1997 - Mobutu died in Morocco Republic of the Congo 1885 - Becomes the French territory Middle Congo 1910 - The territory of French Equatorial Africa is created, Middle Congo is a district 1960 - Independence for the Republic of the Congo 1970 - Becomes the People's Republic of the Congo 1991 - Name returns to the Republic of the Congo Snapshot, Africa: Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Map Courtesy CIA World Factbook The Republic of the Congo, also known as Middle Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Congo (but not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, which was also at one time known as the Republic of the Congo), is a former French colony of west-central Africa. Its borders are Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo.

A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The capital is Brazzaville. First settled by Mbuti, Congo was later settled by Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day Angola, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those states. Several Bantu kingdoms -- notably those of the Kongo, the Loango, and the Teke -- built trade links leading into the Congo River basin. The first European contacts came in the late 15th century, and commercial relationships were quickly established with the kingdoms--trading for slaves captured in the interior. The coastal area was a major source for the transatlantic slave trade, and when that commerce ended in the early 19th century, the power of the Bantu kingdoms eroded.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) | history - geography - capital at Kinshasa | Britannica.com Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) capital at Kinshasa Alternative Titles: Congo-Kinshasa, DRC, Republic of the Congo, République Démocratique du Congo, République du Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Capital at Kinshasa National anthem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Official name République Democratique du Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Form of government unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [108]; National Assembly [500]) Head of state Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate Male: (2010) 76.9% Country Data Overview (PDF) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), country located in central Africa . Officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean but is otherwise landlocked. It is the second largest country on the continent; only Algeria is larger.

The capital, Kinshasa , is located on the Congo River about 320 miles (515 km) from its mouth. The largest city in central Africa, it serves as the country’s official administrative, economic, and cultural centre. The country is often referred to by its acronym , the DRC, or called Congo (Kinshasa), with the capital added parenthetically, to distinguish it from the other Congo republic, which is officially called the Republic of the Congo and is often referred to as Congo (Brazzaville). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Elephants wade across a stream in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. © Carmen Redondo/Corbis Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960. From 1971 to 1997 the country was officially the Republic of Zaire, a change made by then ruler Gen. Mobutu Sese Seko to give the country what he thought was a more authentic African name. “Zaire” is a variation of a term meaning “great river” in local African languages; like the country’s current name, it refers to the Congo River , which drains a large basin that lies mostly in the republic.

Unlike Zaire, however, the name Congo has origins in the colonial period, when Europeans identified the river with the kingdom of the Kongo people, who live near its mouth. Following the overthrow of Mobutu in 1997, the country’s name prior to 1971, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was reinstated. Congo subsequently was plunged into a devastating civil war; the conflict officially ended in 2003, although fighting continued in the eastern part of the country. Related People Congo is rich in natural resources. It boasts vast deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt , and copper; one of the largest forest reserves in Africa; and about half of the hydroelectric potential of the continent. Land Congo is bounded to the north by the Central African Republic and South Sudan ; to the east by Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi , and Tanzania ; to the southeast by Zambia ; and to the southwest by Angola . To the west are the country’s short Atlantic coastline, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda , and Congo (Brazzaville) . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Relief The country’s major topographical features include a large river basin, a major valley, high plateaus, three mountain ranges, and a low coastal plain. Most of the country is composed of the central Congo basin , a vast rolling plain with an average elevation of about 1,700 feet (520 metres) above sea level. The lowest point of 1,109 feet (338 metres) occurs at Lake Mai-Ndombe (formerly Lake Leopold II), and the highest point of 2,296 feet (700 metres) is reached in the hills of Mobayi-Mbongo and Zongo in the north. The basin may once have been an inland sea whose only vestiges are Lakes Tumba and Mai-Ndombe in the west-central region. African Leaders: Part One The north-south Western Rift Valley , the western arm of the East African Rift System , forms the country’s eastern border and includes Lakes Albert , Edward , Kivu , Tanganyika , and Mweru . This part of the country is the highest and most rugged, with striking chains of mountains.

The Mitumba Mountains stretch along the Western Rift Valley, rising to an elevation of 9,800 feet (2,990 metres). The snow-covered peaks of the Ruwenzori Range between Lakes Albert and Edward lie astride the Ugandan border and mark the country’s highest elevation of 16,763 feet (5,109 metres) at Margherita Peak . The volcanic Virunga Mountains stretch across the Western Rift Valley north of Lake Kivu. Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano, is situated in the Virunga Mountains, Dem. Rep. of the Congo. Maik Bunschkowski Tanzania High plateaus border almost every other side of the central basin. In the north the Ubangi-Uele plateaus form the divide between the Nile and Congo river basins. Rising to between 3,000 and 4,000 feet (915 and 1,220 metres), these plateaus also separate the central basin from the vast plains of the Lake Chad system. In the south the plateaus begin at the lower terraces of the Lulua and Lunda river valleys and rise gradually toward the east.

In the southeast the ridges of the plateaus of Katanga (Shaba) province tower over the region; they include Kundelungu at 5,250 feet (1,600 metres), Mitumba at 4,920 feet (1,500 metres), and Hakansson at 3,610 feet (1,100 metres). The Katanga plateaus reach as far north as the Lukuga River and contain the Manika Plateau, the Kibara and the Bia mountains, and the high plains of Marungu. The northern escarpment of the Angola Plateau rises in the southwest, while in the far west a coastal plateau zone includes the hill country of Mayumbe and the Cristal Mountains . A narrow coastal plain lies between the Cristal Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Drainage and soils The Congo River, including its 1,336,000-square-mile (3,460,000-square-km) basin, is the country’s main drainage system. The river rises in the high Katanga plateaus and flows north and then south in a great arc, crossing the Equator twice.

The lower river flows southwestward to empty into the Atlantic Ocean below Matadi . Along its course, the Congo passes through alluvial lands and swamps and is fed by the waters of many lakes and tributaries. The most important lakes are Mai-Ndombe and Tumba; the major tributaries are the Lomami , Aruwimi, and Ubangi rivers and those of the great Kasai River system. In addition, the Lukuga River links the basin to the Western Rift Valley. The Congo River basin and its drainage network. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Enya people fishing in the rapids of the Congo River near Kisangani, Dem. Rep. of the Congo. SuperStock Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Soils are of two types: those of the equatorial areas and those of the drier savanna (grassland) regions. Equatorial soils occur in the warm, humid lowlands of the central basin, which receive abundant precipitation throughout the year and are covered mainly with thick forests. This soil is almost fixed in place because of the lack of erosion in the forests.

In swampy areas the very thick soil is constantly nourished by humus, the organic material resulting from the decomposition of plant or animal matter. Savanna soils are threatened by erosion, but the river valleys contain rich and fertile alluvial soils. The highlands of the Great Lakes region in eastern Congo are partly covered with rich soil derived from volcanic lava. This is the country’s most productive agricultural area. Climate Most of Congo lies within the inner humid tropical, or equatorial, climatic region extending five degrees north and south of the Equator. Southern Congo and the far north have somewhat drier subequatorial climates. The seasonally mobile intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a major determinant of the climate. Along this zone the trade winds originating in the Northern and Southern hemispheres meet, forcing unstable tropical air aloft. The air that is forced upward is cooled, and the resulting condensation produces prolonged and heavy precipitation. In July and August this zone of maximum precipitation occurs in the north; it then shifts into central Congo in September and October. Between November and February the southern parts of the country receive maximum precipitation.

Thereafter the ITCZ moves northward again, crossing central Congo in March and April, so this zone has two rainfall maxima. The extreme eastern highlands lie outside the path of the ITCZ and are subject to the influence of the southeastern trade winds alone. In addition to the ITCZ, elevation and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its maritime influences also act as factors of climatic differentiation. The country is divided into four major climatic regions. In the equatorial climate zone, temperatures are hot, the average monthly temperature rarely dropping below the mid-70s F (low to mid-20s C). Humidity is high, and it rains throughout the year. Annual precipitation at Eala, for example, averages 71 inches (1,800 mm). The tropical or subequatorial climate zone, marked by distinct dry and rainy seasons, is found north and south of the equatorial region. The dry season lasts from four to seven months (usually April to October), depending largely on distance from the Equator. In Kananga about 63 inches (1,600 mm) of precipitation falls annually. Short dry spells of several weeks’ duration may occur during the rainy season.

Related Topics Outbreaks Chronology: Ebola Virus Disease | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC Outbreaks Chronology: Ebola Virus Disease Language: Known Cases and Outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease, in Reverse Chronological Order: Year(s) Reported number of human cases Reported number (%) of deaths among cases Situation Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola virus 66 49 (74%) Outbreak occurred in multiple villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak was unrelated to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. March 2014-2016 28652 11325 Outbreak across multiple countries in West Africa. Number of patients is constantly evolving due to the ongoing investigation. 32 November 2012-January 2013 6* 3* (50%) Outbreak occurred in the Luwero District. CDC assisted the Ministry of Health in the epidemiologic and diagnostic aspects of the outbreak. Testing of samples by CDC's Viral Special Pathogens Branch occurred at UVRI in Entebbe.

31 June-November 2012 Democratic Republic of the Congo Bundibugyo virus 36* 13* (36.1%) Outbreak occurred in DRC’s Province Orientale. Laboratory support was provided through CDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)’s field laboratory in Isiro, as well as through the CDC/UVRI lab in Uganda. The outbreak in DRC had no epidemiologic link to the near contemporaneous Ebola outbreak in the Kibaale district of Uganda. 31 June-October 2012 11* 4* (36.4%) Outbreak occurred in the Kibaale District of Uganda. Laboratory tests of blood samples were conducted by the UVRI and the CDC. 31 May 2011 1 1 (100%) The Uganda Ministry of Health informed the public a patient with suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic fever died on May 6, 2011 in the Luwero district, Uganda. The quick diagnosis from a blood sample of Ebola virus was provided by the new CDC Viral Hemorrhagic Fever laboratory installed at the Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI).

30 December 2008-February 2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaire virus 32 15 (47%) Outbreak occurred in the Mweka and Luebo health zones of the Province of Kasai Occidental. 29 November 2008 6 (asymptomatic) 0 First known occurrence of Ebola-Reston in pigs. Strain closely similar to earlier strains. Six workers from the pig farm and slaughterhouse developed antibodies but did not become sick. 27 28 December 2007-January 2008 149 37 (25%) Outbreak occurred in Bundibugyo District in western Uganda. First reported occurrence of a new strain. 26 2007 Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaire virus 264 187 (71%) Outbreak occurred in Kasai Occidental Province. The outbreak was declared over November 20. Last confirmed case on October 4 and last death on October 10. 24 25 2004 17 7 (41%) Outbreak occurred in Yambio county of southern Sudan.

This outbreak was concurrent with an outbreak of measles in the same area, and several suspected EHF cases were later reclassified as measles cases. 22 November-December 2003 Outbreak occurred in Mbomo and Mbandza villages located in Mbomo distric, Cuvette Ouest Département. 21 December 2002-April 2003 Outbreak occurred in the districts of Mbomo and Kéllé in Cuvette Ouest Département. 20 October 2001-March 2002 57 43 (75%) Outbreak occurred over the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. This was the first time that Ebola hemorrhagic fever was reported in the Republic of the Congo. 19 October 2001-March 2002 Outbreak occurred over the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. 19 2000-2001 425 224 (53%) Occurred in Gulu, Masindi, and Mbarara districts of Uganda.

The three most important risks associated with Ebola virus infection were attending funerals of Ebola hemorrhagic fever case-patients, having contact with case-patients in one's family, and providing medical care to Ebola case-patients without using adequate personal protective measures. 18 1996 0 0 Ebola-Reston virus was identified in a monkey export facility in the Philippines. No human infections were identified. 16 1996 0 0 Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into a quarantine facility in Texas by monkeys imported from the Philippines. No human infections were identified. 15 1996 2 1 (50%) A medical professional traveled from Gabon to Johannesburg, South Africa, after having treated Ebola-infected patients and having been exposed to the virus. He was hospitalized, and a nurse who took care of him became infected and died. 14 1996-1997 (July-January) 60 45 (74%) Occurred in Booué area with transport of patients to Libreville. Index case-patient was a hunter who lived in a forest camp. Disease was spread by close contact with infected persons.

A dead chimpanzee found in the forest at the time was determined to be infected. 11 1996 (January-April) 37 21 (57%) Occurred in Mayibout area. A chimpanzee found dead in the forest was eaten by people hunting for food. Nineteen people who were involved in the butchery of the animal became ill; other cases occurred in family members. 11 1995 Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) Zaire virus 315 250 (81%) Occurred in Kikwit and surrounding area. Traced to index case-patient who worked in the forest adjoining the city. The epidemic spread through families and hospitals. 13 1994 1 0 Scientist became ill after conducting an autopsy on a wild chimpanzee in the Tai Forest. The patient was treated in Switzerland. 12 1994 52 31 (60%) Occurred in Mékouka and other gold-mining camps deep in the rain forest. Initially thought to be yellow fever; identified as Ebola hemorrhagic fever in 1995.

11 1992 0 0 Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into quarantine facilities in Sienna by monkeys imported from the same export facility in the Philippines that was involved in the episodes in the United States. No humans were infected. 10 1989-1990 3 (asymptomatic) 0 High mortality among cynomolgus macaques in a primate facility responsible for exporting animals in the United States. 8 Three workers in the animal facility developed antibodies but did not get sick. 9 1990 4 (asymptomatic) 0 Ebola-Reston virus was introduced once again into quarantine facilities in Virginia, and Texas by monkeys imported from the Philippines. Four people developed antibodies but did not get sick. 7 1989 0 0 Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into quarantine facilities in Virginia and Pennsylvania by monkeys imported from the Philippines. 6 1979 34 22 (65%) Occurred in Nzara, Maridi. Recurrent outbreak at the same site as the 1976 Sudan epidemic. 5 1977 Noted retrospectively in the village of Tandala.

4 1976 Laboratory infection by accidental stick of contaminated needle. 3 1976 284 151 (53%) Occurred in Nzara, Maridi and the surrounding area. Disease was spread mainly through close personal contact within hospitals. Many medical care personnel were infected. 2 1976 Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC) Zaire virus 318 280 (88%) Occurred in Yambuku and surrounding area. Disease was spread by close personal contact and by use of contaminated needles and syringes in hospitals/clinics. This outbreak was the first recognition of the disease. 1 *Numbers reflect laboratory confirmed cases only. References World Health Organization. Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Sudan, 1976. Report of a WHO/International Study Team [1.4 MB, 24 pages] . Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 1978;56(2):247-270. Emond RT, Evans B, Bowen ET, et al. A case of Ebola virus infection. British Medical Journal.

1977;2(6086):541-544. Heymann DL, Weisfeld JS, Webb PA, et al. Ebola hemorrhagic fever: Tandala, Zaire, 1977-1978. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1980;142(3):372-376. Baron RC, McCormick JB, and Zubeir OA. Ebola virus disease in southern Sudan: hospital dissemination and intrafamilial spread [276 KB, 8 pages] . Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 1983;61(6):997-1003. Jahrling PB, Geisbert TW, Dalgard DW, et al. Preliminary report: isolation of Ebola virus from monkeys imported to USA. Lancet. 1990;335(8688):502-505. Centers for Disease Control. Update: Filovirus infection in animal handlers . Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report. 1990;39(13):221.

Hayes CG, Burans JP, Ksiazek TG, et al. Outbreak of fatal illness among captive macaques in the Philippines caused by an Ebola-related filovirus. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1992;46(6):664-671. Miranda ME, White ME, Dayrit MM, Hayes CG, Ksiazek TG, and Burans JP. Seroepidemiological study of filovirus related to Ebola in the Philippines. Lancet. 1991;337:425-426. World Health Organization. Viral haemorrhagic fever in imported monkeys [1.2 MB, 8 pages] . Weekly Epidemiological Record. 1992;67(24):183. Georges AJ, Leroy EM, Renaud AA, et al. Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Gabon, 1994-1997: epidemiologic and health control issues. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999;179:S65-75.

Le Guenno B, Formenty P, Wyers M, et al. Isolation and partial characterisation of a new strain of Ebola virus. Lancet. 1995;345:1271-1274. Khan AS, Tshioko FK, Heymann DL, et al. The Reemergence of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999;179:S76-S86. World Health Organization. Ebola haemorrhagic fever - South Africa [469 KB, 8 pages] . Weekly Epidemiological Record. 1996;71(47):359. Rollin PE, Williams J, Bressler D, et al. Isolated cases of Ebola (subtype Reston) virus among quarantined non-human primates recently imported from the Philippines to the United States. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999;179 (suppl 1):S108-S114. Miranda ME, Ksiazek TG, Retuya TJ, et al.

Epidemiology of Ebola (subtype Reston) virus in the Philippines, 1996. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999;179 (suppl 1):S115-S119. Borisevich IV, Markin VA, Firsova IV, et al. Hemorrhagic (Marburg, Ebola, Lassa, and Bolivian) fevers: epidemiology, clinical pictures, and treatment. Voprosy Virusologii – Problems of Virology (Moscow). 2006;51(5):8–16 [Russian]. Okware SI, Omaswa FG, Zaramba S, et al. An outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 2002;7(12):1068-1075. World Health Organization. Outbreak(s) of Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Congo and Gabon, October 2001- July 2002 [518 KB, 12 pages] . Weekly Epidemiological Report. 2003;78(26):223-225.

Formenty P, Libama F, Epelboin A, et al. Outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the Republic of the Congo, 2003: a new strategy? Medecine Tropicale (Marseille). 2003;63(3):291-295. World Health Organization. Outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Yambio, south Sudan, April-June 2004 [159 KB, 8 pages] . Weekly Epidemiological Record. 2005;80(43):370-375. Akinfeyeva LA, Aksyonova OI, Vasilyevich IV, et al. A case of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Infektsionnye Bolezni (Moscow). 2005;3(1):85–88 [Russian]. World Health Organization. Ebola Reston in pigs and humans, Philippines [240 KB, 8 pages] . Weekly Epidemiological Record. 2009;84(7):49-50.

Barrette RW, Metwally SA, Rowland JM, et al. Discovery of Swine as a Host for the Reston ebolavirus. Science. 2009;325;204-206. World Health Organization. End of the Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . Global Alert and Response. 17 Febuary 2009. Shoemaker T, MacNeil A, Balinandi S, et al. Reemerging Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda, 2011. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2012;18(9):1480-1483. Albarino CG, Shoemaker T, Khristova ML, et al. Genomic analysis of filoviruses associated with four viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2012. Virology. 2013;442(2):97-100.

Question: The Democratic Republic of the Congo was previously known as what?
Answer: ZAIRE